Mummy Smugglers Reveal Vast Antiquities Black Market
The rescue of an ancient Egyptian mummy's sarcophagus this month from alleged smugglers in New York — the first time authorities say an international artifacts' smuggling ring was dismantled within the United States — sounds more like the plot of a movie than reality.
Amazingly, however, mummy smuggling not only still happens today, it was once so common that enough mummies were available to be ground up and sold as powder, archaeologists reveal.
"Mummy powder was something you could buy in pharmacies up to 1920, because people thought it was a type of medication," said Egyptologist Regine Schulz, curator of ancient art at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.
Today's black market for mummy and other antiquities is in the billions of dollars, though exact numbers aren't known. Besides not having a clear bead on the breadth of trafficking in Egyptian artifacts , scientists and officials say it's often difficult to protect the precious artifacts as the Egyptian desert is so vast. [ Science as Art: A Gallery ]
A long history of mummy dealings
The trafficking of mummies traces back to medieval times.
"When Christianity and Islam were rising, mummification was not really the main habit anymore, although we have some mummies of Christian bishops in Egypt that do date back to the seventh and eighth centuries A.D.," Schulz said. "So from the Middle Ages on, mummies were a bit curious and strange."
Nevertheless, so many mummies were made during ancient Egypt times that enough were available to make mummy powder, or mummia, whose pigment "one assumes was a dark brown," said Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum.
"Mummification was not just something for pharaohs or the upper class — it was the normal thing in ancient Egypt for hundreds of years," Schulz said. "My aunt lived for many years in Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s, and sandstorms would often reveal tiny remains of mummies — sometimes a little wrapping, sometimes a little bone." [ Top 10 Weird Ways We Deal With the Dead ]
Given the way mummification helped preserve the body, people thought mummies had something to do with eternity, and, in turn that mummy powder could be used as medication, Schulz said.
As strange as grinding up ancient corpses for sale might be in modern times, "mummies were seen as objects back then, not people," Schulz said. "There was nothing illegal about it .
Ancient Egypt Artifacts - News
The rescue of an ancient Egyptian mummy's sarcophagus this month from alleged smugglers in New York — the first time authorities say an international artifacts' smuggling ring was dismantled within the United States — sounds more like the plot of a
Joseph A. Lewis, a collector of Egyptian antiquities, is charged with smuggling Egyptian artifacts. Original Filename: IMG_0188.jpg A group of Egyptian antiquities dealers have been charged with illegally smuggling ancient funerary
I really like the creativity that the writers use to conjure up completely unique artifacts week after week. This week was one of the most complex and intriguing being a mechanical bee hive from ancient Egyptian times, that releases an enchanted queen
(The China Post) Four men were charged with smuggling ancient artifacts, including a sarcophagus dating as far back as the 7th century BC, and money laundering. Lawyers for three of the men either declined to comment or said their clients would fight
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Tours to Egypt – A Journey That Remains In Your Heart | Article ...
Are you looking for exotic tour and travel destination where you will have not only opportunity to indulge in fun and adventurous activities but at the same time you can explore the great heritage from the ancient world, including pyramids and wonderful temples, magnificent forts and monuments, if same things you are looking in your tour then you are most welcome to Egypt.
Travel to this country has always been a dream to all travelers and historians. Touring to this exotic country is really a lifetime experience. It is one such a country where tourism is the major contributor of income. It has always been most favored among honeymooners, historians and adventure-enthusiast visited by tourists from every nook and corner of the world throughout the year. Apart from the ancient pyramid and monuments, Egypt is equally famous for its silver sandy beaches, deserts and exotic wildlife safari that one can explore during Tours to Egypt . Some of the top most attractions that one can explore during touring to Egypt are given below.
The Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza well famous as Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops is the oldest and the largest of the three pyramids visited from across the world throughout the year. It is the oldest of the seven wonders of the Ancient world, and the only one to remain largely intact. The great pyramid of Khufu is by far the most famous pyramid in this country magnets tourist from across the world. Listed among “Seven Wonders of The World”, the great pyramid of Khufu is by far the most famous pyramid in Egypt, the biggest, tallest and most intact. Khufu’s pyramid is built entirely of limestone, and is considered an architectural masterpiece.
Sahara Desert
One of the largest deserts in the world Sahara Desert is one of the major attractions and essential part of Egypt Tour Packages . Be here and enjoy the world famous camel safari while exploring the endless sands that changes the colors with the changing position of the sun.
Cairo
Cairo, the capital city of Egypt and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most visited places in Egypt. Famous for its heart grabbing attractions, world class accommodations and throbbing nightlife, it has a number of wonderful things to offer to its visitors. This beautiful place is situated on the beautiful Nile, and it is close to some of the most famous sites in all of Egypt named as the Great Pyramids of Egypt and the Sphinx. The Egyptian Museum is the center of town is a must see, with its countless Ancient Egyptian artifacts, as is shopping at the Khan al-Khalili bazaar.
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